We hear about child abuse, but how often do we hear about elder abuse? As they age, our parents too require love, nurturing, and complex support to survive. Elder abuse may involve outright physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of an elder, or it may manifest itself as neglect of the elder's caretaking needs. Financial exploitation, for example, through misappropriation of the elder's funds, is also a problem.

Both family members and institutions (nursing homes, etc.) may be responsible for abusing elders in their care. Even outside scam artists, who, for example, announce that the elder has one a (fictitious) prize s/he must pay for, can be guilty of abuse.